Day 2 – Hohnstein – Bern, CH

The Rally Begins

A Morning Above the Mist (Brand‑Baude)

We started the day with what felt like a perfect rally morning: bright sunshine above the hills and a soft layer of mist resting in the valley below. From the Brand‑Baude, the view across the ridgelines of Saxon Switzerland was spectacular, and it set a calm tone before the day turned fully “on the move.”

Before breakfast, we took a short walk through the forest and stopped at a viewpoint to soak in the scenery one last time. Afterwards, we enjoyed a rich breakfast back at the Brand‑Baude—fuel for the day ahead and a quiet moment before the official start.

Green signpost reading 'Aussicht Hafersäcke' on a weathered wooden post in a forest of bare trees, with stacked firewood and a rustic house visible in the background.

Official Farewell & Start in Hohnstein

After breakfast, we took the shuttle back to the market square in Hohnstein, where the rally atmosphere was already building. With traditional elements, music from the local marksmen’s association, and a few words from the mayor, the farewell ceremony quickly turned into the moment everyone had been waiting for: the official start.

Smiling group of travelers selfie in a sunny town square with a blue sky, cobblestone street, and historic buildings; outdoor gear, casual jackets, and name tags visible.

We set off as one of the earlier teams, initially heading toward Dresden and then joining the A4, with the plan to push as far as possible toward Switzerland.

A Quick Fix Near Würzburg (Mauritania e‑Visa Printout)

As the kilometers added up, we made a short but important stop near Würzburg—and it came just in time. We realized we had forgotten to print our Mauritania e‑Visas, something that can become a real problem later if you don’t have paperwork ready when you need it.

Thankfully, a friend helped us out spontaneously, and what could have been a stressful moment turned into a relaxed lunch break together. A big thank‑you again to Markus for the quick support—much appreciated.

Two men stand beside a red SUV with roof rack and stickers, including Team Insanire branding, outdoors in daylight, a parking lot setting.

Southbound via Stuttgart and Freiburg

With the e‑Visa printout sorted, we continued south. The route took us toward Stuttgart, which we bypassed, then onward to Freiburg im Breisgau. From there, we crossed the border near Basel and headed into Switzerland, with Bern as our destination for the night.

Red SUV on a sunny highway with roof luggage, viewed from inside a car showing a fox-pattern blanket, clear blue sky and distant hills along the road

Arrival in Bern and an Evening with Family

We arrived in Bern shortly before 8:00 p.m. and spent the evening visiting family we wanted to see before the rally stages pull us deeper into the journey. It was a really pleasant way to end a long driving day: we shared rally stories, talked through plans, and also caught up on family topics that usually don’t fit into busy preparation weeks.

Later, we checked into our hotel in Bern, made a quick plan for the next day, and then did what felt absolutely right after a full day on the road and almost 900km: sleep.